What’s Wrong With This Picture: There’s a Snake in the Art Department! Edition

TTAG reader KWK recently (belatedly) spotted an annoying anomaly at pixar.wiki.com: a disarmed tea-oh-why-TOY. Specifically, Woody. And it’s not just this image either. All of the films, pics and costumer version of Pixar’s cowboy character show him toting an empty holster. Why? Because he doesn’t have one. Now you could say it’s because Woody’s gun was lost. Or you could say Pixar PC demanded disarmament. Or both. Or . . .

They probably would have never have given him a holster, but they needed somewhere for him to put the match, and a holster made the most sense. In TS1, the lack of a gun to put there is immaterial.

When TS2 comes out, they suddenly have the problem of “original condition” and what parts are needed to complete the set. A gun complicates matters more than is worth dealing with, so it was simply ignored, completely.

It’s not the only thing Pixar chose to ignore because dealing with it would be too complicated. In TS1, when Buzz is showing off his wings, the wings would have hit the car track when he flipped through the loop. To make it through, they just made a few camera cuts and: boom, problem solved. Same with a group hug Buzz gives: his arms weren’t long enough, so they just stretched them and hid it behind the group he’s hugging.

Thank you garygnu from the straightdope.com board, circa 2006. To which D18 added . . .

He had to have a gun at some point because one of his catch phrases is “reach for the sky”. Why would the bad guy reach for the sky if there wasn’t a gun aimed at him?

Anyway, as the Toy Story re-runs run-up to Xmas at least there’s one kiddies Christmas film that not only has a gun, but bases its plot on the rifle. Or have I forgot something?

comments

Ralphie almost shoots Ralphie’s eye out with his very real rifle. I always wondered if there was a subtle anti-gun message in Christmas Story. But then I think “It’s Christmas Story, one of the best, most entertaining movies ever…don’t over think it.”

We bought a Woody for our son for Hanukkah this year. I can confirm that the doll also comes gun-less. I noticed it right away after the lady picked it up from the store. It’s no big deal. Unlike many of his .friends, my son will get to enjoy the responsibility of gun ownership soon enough

Welcome to the war. The future of the Second Amendment means recruiting new shooters. Now, I’ve managed to breed two, and have another pair on the way… And I’ve taken several new people to the range. But the other side is waging its own war to redefine what normal is, and in their world guns are bad, citizens shouldn’t have any, and the government will provide for your every need.

Is this article silly? Maybe, but it’s an example of the absurd lengths taken to denormalize guns in today’s world.

You really think Pixar is deliberately trying to “denormalize” guns by having an *empty holster* on Woody? Seriously? The fact that we get dozen of Hollywood blockbusters that 100% center around firearms per year doesn’t make this idea seem more than a little silly? Tell me, what place would a firearm have even served the plot of TS1?

No, this is just absurd and looking for boogeymen where there are none.

I thought it was obvious. He doesn’t have the gun because he is an old toy that isn’t in good condition. That’s why he doesn’t like Buzz in the beginning. Because he is afraid that he will lose Andy to the new and shiny Buzz.

Also, there is simply no way that Buzz’ helmet could have focused sunlight just right to launch the rocket. Incidents like this, Woody’s gun, Buzz’ wing phasing through the track, and the toys’ attack on Sid are CLEARLY examples of Pixar’s subliminal messaging trying to get people to stop buying toys! I think we should start http://www.toystoryTRUTH.org to expose the conspiracies of the ATO (Anti-Toy Order)!

I can’t remember the last time I saw a gun on illustrated cop’s belt. My family always snaps up police books for my little guy and I always grumble to the wife about it.
Aren’t cops the “only ones” who should have them? It’s a glaring omission, IMHO, and I hate why they do it.

i noticed this as well at disney world. i looked through several dolls to make sure someone just didnt take a bunch of them and nope, the picture on the box shows no gun, but buzz gets a lazer? some how thats not a gun i guess because it doesnt have a grip. its built into his suit.

The gun wasn’t lost because he’s an old toy, it has always been absent.
TS2 doesn’t just avoid the issue of “original condition”. The black & white videos shown of “Woody’s Roundup” (the Cowboy Crunchies advertainment that is the origin of the Woody character) the puppet’s holster is always empty.
So, the character has never had a gun but always had an empty holster. Seems awfully silly to me.